IT'S official - cow urine is not fit for human consumption.
That's the shock conclusion of a new report from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), which formally investigated the safety implications of what is a common practice among some of the country's citizens.
The peer-reviewed study was published online this week, finding at least 14 types of harmful bacteria in urine samples taken from various bovine species.
"We collected urine samples of three types of cows - sahiwal, tharparkar and vindavani - from local dairy farms, along with samples of buffaloes and humans," said lead researcher and IVRI epidemiologist Bhoj Raj Singh, notably confirming the presence of Escheria coli in the urine, which is commonly associated with a range of human stomach conditions.
He formally warned people not to drink cow urine, adding that "the commonly held belief that cow urine is antibacterial cannot be generalised".
Singh said the study was taken following a rise in assertions about the antibacterial powers of cow urine, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Interestingly, if you're going to drink any type of urine to help with your health, it seems it would be better to drink buffalo wee, with statistical analysis of the study samples suggesting that "antibacterial activity in buffalo urine was far more superior than that of cows".
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